Thimble.



Nn. 649,3I. Patented May 8, |900. C. E. ILES.

THIMBLE.

(Application med July 25, 1898.)

(No Nbdel.)

"wrrNEss E5 A-T r1( 0 WASNKNGTON, D. C.

UNiTnD STATES PATENT FFIC.

CHARLES EDUARD ILES, OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

THIMBL'E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 649,310, dated May 8, 1900.

Application filed July`251l898. Serial No. 686,838. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES EDUARD ILES, thimble manufacturer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Highgate street, in the city of Birmingham, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing-Thimbles, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to sewing-thimbles, and has for its object the construction of a thimble which is light and convenient and economical of manufacture.

To the ends stated the invention consists of a sewing-thimble having a rigid and nonmetallic body, such as Celluloid or Xylonite, provided with a metallic armor-cap which extends over and covers the closed end of the non-metallic body and the upper portion of its wall and which terminates short of the mouth of the body, leaving the lower end of the latter exposed and self-sustaining by reason of its practical rigidity.

The invention also consists in a sewingthimble having other novel details, as hereinafter set forth and described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a thimble constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the non-metallic rigid body of the thimble, and Fig. 4 a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 5 is an elevation, and Fig. 6 a central sectional view, of the metallic armor-cap.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference-letter a designates the rigid non-metallic shell-body, which is composed, preferably, of celluloid or Xylonite, and which has a suflicient rigidity to be self-sustaining. The metallic armor-cap is indicated by the referenceletter b. This cap iits over and covers the closed end of the non-metallic body a and eX- tends toward the mouth or finger-hole of the thimble, so as to protect or armor the upper portion of the wall of said body a; but, as clearly indicated in the drawings, it terminates short of the mouth of the body, the lower portion of which is exposed, and by reason of its practical rigidity is self-sustaining. The thimble so constructed is extremely light and comfortable to the finger of the user and by reason of the novel arrangement of the armor-cap in connection therewith can be manufactured at an extremely small cost.

Having particular reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings,it will be seen .that the armor-cap b is secured to the non-metallic body d by embedding the edge 1) of the armor-cap into the material of the body a at a point a' above the lip or edge of the finger-opening a2, and this is preferably done by spinning. This connection prevents the separation of the armorcap from the body and provides a substan tially-integral structure. At a plurality of points b2 the armorcap is also indented inwardly into the material'of the body a to further secure against the longitudinal movement of the cap with respect to the body and also to prevent rotation of the one with relau tion to the other.

It will be obvious that the armor-'cap may be made of other hard material instead of metal, as described, though metal is preferable.

Aside from the advantages of lightness and economy of construction my thimble avoids the disadvantage of having the finger of the user coming in contact with a metallic sur'- face. It may also be said with reference to my invention that the novel arrangement of armor-cap serves not only as a defense against penetration, but also as a reinforce for strengthening the body of the thimble.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 4 l. Theherein-describedthimble,consisting of an interior rigid non-metallic body and an armor-cap covering the closed end of the nonmetallic body and upper portion. of its wall and terminating short of the mouth of the body, leaving the lower end of the latter exposed and self-sustaining, substantially as described.

2. A thimble consisting of a rigid non-me; tallic body provided with an outer metallic cap or shell, the inner body being provided with a circumferential groove and the edge of the cap or shell being spun into said groove, said cap or shell being indented and said indentations extending into the body to prevent the cap or shell rotating on the body, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ED UARD ILES.

Witnesses:

HENRY SKERRETT, ARTHUR T. SADLER.

IOO 

